The Homeless Boy

Tired of staying
inside, Celso
went out into
the garden. He
liked to stand
by the front
gate watching
the street, the
movement of the
cars and the
people passing
by.

That was when
Celso saw on the
other side of
the street a
sad-faced boy
sitting on the
curb. He was
dirty, miserable
and barefoot.
Celso felt sorry
for the boy who
seemed to be
about his age:
eight years-old.

He opened the
gate, crossed
the street and
went to where
the boy was.
Approaching him,
he asked:

- Hello! Can I
sit here with
you?

The boy raised
his head to see
who was speaking
and was
surprised to see
another boy his
size. He
shrugged his
shoulders as if
to say: Sit down.
The street is
public!

Celso sat down
and began to
talk to him.

- Why are you so
sad?

- Why do you
want to know? -
replied the
stranger with
another question.

And Celso
pointed with his
finger:

- See that house
there? That's
where I live. I
was watching the
street and I saw
you looking so
sad that I could
not stop myself
from coming here.
What happened?

The boy took a
deep breath and
said:

- It's a long
story. My mother
died and then my
father desperate
abandoned me. He
went out into
the world and I
do not know
where he is. I
was sent to an
aunt's house but
I was left so
hungry and
suffered so much
abuse that I
could not take
it anymore and
ran away. Now I
have nowhere to
go and I'm
living in the
streets. When
I'm hungry, I
ask for food at
the neighbouring
houses. To sleep,
I hide somewhere
like under a
bridge or an
abandoned house.

Celso felt very
sorry for the
boy. He never
thought there
were children
like him
suffering so
much!

- Do not move.
I'm going to my
house and I'll
be right back! -
he said to the
boy.

He made a
sandwich, poured
a glass of milk
with coffee1 and
returned to the
boy, handing
them to him.

The boy's eyes
sparkled when he
saw the food. He
devoured
everything and
then thanked
Celso:

- Thank you. I
was really
hungry! And I do
not even know
your name!

- Celso. What
about yours? -
and he held out
his hand towards
the other boy.
- My name is
Louis! You're
cool, Celso!

The two of them
began to talk.
After a while,
their friendship
became so strong
that Celso
wished he could
help Louis. So
he asked Louis
to wait again
and returned to
his house.

Celso had seen
his father come
home after work.
He walked up to
him and asked:

- Dad, I'd like
you to meet a
friend of mine.
Come with me!

The father was
tired but agreed
and accompanied
his son. Then
Celso showed him:

- Look, Daddy!
That kid across
the street needs
help!

The father
looked at the
boy sitting by
the curb and
reacted in
surprise:

- But, son! He's
a homeless kid!...

Celso had his
eyes moist so he
turned to his
father and
considered:

- Dad, you were
talking about
Jesus the other
day, and you
said that we
should love all
people because
they are our
brothers,
remember?

- You’re right,
son. But we do
not know who
this boy is! He
may have bad
habits, he may
even be used to
stealing!... How
can we trust
someone we don’t
know? - said the
father, shaken
by his son's
argument.

The boy thought
for a moment
then pondered
again:

- Dad, but if
good people do
not protect the
bad ones, how
can we exercise
brotherhood?

The father,
defeated by his
son's new
argument and
moved by the
greatness of his
soul, embraced
him and agreed:

- You’re right,
son. If we
consider
ourselves
Christians, we
have to act as
Jesus taught us.

They crossed the
street and
Celso's father
talked a little
with Louis, then
he invited the
boy:

- Louis, we want
you to come to
our house.

- Sir, I thank
you for your
kindness. But
you do not know
me, you do not
even know who I
am! -replied the
boy, unable to
believe his ears.

As he heard
these words,
Celso's father
responded with
emotion:

- I do not need
to know you to
realise you're a
good boy. You
will stay with
us for as long
as you want. You
will go to
school with
Celso and have
the life of
every boy your
age. If you ever
hear from your
father and
choose to be
with him, you
will be free to
do so. I'll do
whatever I can
to help you.

They crossed the
street and,
before entering
the gate, happy
but still
undecided, Louis
wanted to know:

- Sir, but what
about Celso's
mother? Will she
agree?

- I'm sure she
will. Do not
worry.

They entered the
house and the
father explained
the situation to
his wife. When
she saw the new
guest, she
smiled and
hugged him. Then
she asked Celso
to grab some of
his clothes for
Louis so he
could take a
shower while she
finished
preparing dinner.

Half an hour
later, Louis,
now clean, well
dressed and
wearing new
sneakers and
alongside Celso
entered the
living room
where the meal
would be served.
Everyone was
happy. The
father told the
new member of
the family:
- In the name of
Jesus, welcome
to our home!

MEIMEI

(Psychographed
by Célia Xavier
de Camargo on
19/03/2012.)

1 In some parts
of Brazil, it is
quite common for
kids to have
sweetened milk
and coffee to
drink as part of
breakfast or
with a snack. -
Translator’s
note.